Barbara Betancourt-Miranda was 16 and from Lake Worth when she was found shot in an apartment in Palm Springs, Florida, on September 12, 2019. Initial reports suggested she accidentally shot herself while handling a gun, but her family disputes that account and points to several inconsistencies.

Barbara was in her ex-boyfriend’s family apartment with two other 16-year-olds: her ex-boyfriend and a school friend. The gun used in the shooting was found outside the building; one of the teens later admitted to moving the gun, saying they did so in panic. Family members were told the bullet entered the upper right side of her neck and exited above her hip, a trajectory they say is inconsistent with a self-inflicted wound. Her school bag, watch, and wallet were reported missing after her death, and a charge was made on her bank card three days later. No arrests have been announced and the Palm Springs Police Department has not disclosed the gun’s owner.

Who saw Barbara in the hours before her death or has information about the gun, the missing items, or the card charge?